“Beautiful, soul-shattering, and utterly delicious.” ~ Ilsa Madden-Mills, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author Bennett Sharp is on the run.Wanted for piracy, she fears neither God nor death nor man.Except Priest Farrell.The unfaithful, stormy-eyed libertine hunts her with terrifying possessiveness. Nothing will stop him from coming for her. Not his unforgivable … stop him from coming for her. Not his unforgivable betrayal. Not when she’s captured by the ice-cold pirate hunter, Lord Ashley Cutler.
She must escape Ashley’s prison and Priest’s deceit. But can she walk away from their twisted desires?
Two gorgeous captains stand on opposite sides of the law. When they collide in a battle to protect her, the lines blur between enemies and lovers.
Passion heats, secrets unravel, and hearts entangle until they break.
Can love prevail in the sea of ruin?
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What caught my eye immediately was the cover. It reminded me of the historical romance novels I would read as a teenager. All that was missing was Fabio. Then I dove in to the story and it was anything BUT the romance novels of my younger days. This was historical Pam Godwin style.
My favorite thing about Pam’s books are her heroines. They are anything but damsels in distress. And in Bennett’s case, it’s the men who should be looking out for her. She’s fierce, witty, strong, and rules the sea as well if not better than any man out there. And the two men in her life, Lord Ashley Cutler and Priest Farrell aren’t going to take her down that easy.
This story wasn’t as dark as some of Pam’s other books, but it had the signature Godwin grit that I love. Bennett was one of my favorite female leads that Pam has written because she was just so fun to read. Priest sucked me in and Ashley was the one I loved to hate. This book is steamy, witty, and the banter between the characters is fun. But don’t think this is a fluffy love story. It IS Pam Godwin after all. The way she makes the reader feel for the most dangerous characters is a gift. This was by far one of my favorite books of hers, and I really hope this isn’t the last we see of her writing historical romance
As the Captain of her own pirate ship, Bennett Sharp is tenacious and a force to be reckoned with, but she is also acutely aware of the dangers when she formulates her plan. Protecting her ship, crew and her heart, Bennett quickly acts but such haste has drastic results. Taken into captivity by Commodore Ashley Cutler, Bennett hopes Priest Farrell, the one man she is counting on, will arrive before her scheme of escape comes crashing down.
“Unbending. Deadlocked. He wanted to entangle our future. I wanted to undo our past.”
Narrated from Bennett’s perspective, the story begins with an overarching plot line from her youth and how the relationship with her parents shapes her adult course in relationships and on the open seas. What ensues is complex and perfectly executed with action packed sequences and a dynamic push-pull between characters.
“Love isn’t a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake.”
From the beginning, I was completely engaged in the storyline and how it winded and weaved through perilous times and steamy passages. Deeply independent, Bennett is an anomaly for a woman in the 1700’s and I liked her determination and understood her vulnerabilities. As for Priest and Ashley, coming from different worlds they are opposites in many ways, but equally appealing to me. Lastly, there were secondary characters that added to the dark swells in this story.
Sea of Ruin is an epic tale of loss, love, adventure and sacrifice. This book would appeal to those seeking a uniquely crafted dark historical romance.
A+ rating. OMG, this book was so freaking good. I don’t read historical, but maybe once every couple of years. But this book was so much more. It was dark. It was erotic. It was sexy. And it had the most amazing characters and imagery. I feel like I’ve been on a huge sloop or gunship for the last two days. The story transported me, and I’m not quite sure how to move onto other reading from here. Luckily, there’s a novella set in this world, so I don’t have to leave it quite yet. But I can promise you this…this book will have an honored spot in my reread pile.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! But note…it is a dark, erotic romance set in the pirate world…proceed accordingly…and ENJOY!
Wow! I didn’t even think I would like a pirate romance and historical at that. But I knew Pam Godwin would make it amazing. I should mention that it’s DARK! Definitely. The prequel novella isn’t necessary to read first but I loved it too. Adds more background and you can read it before or after.
Dark, gritty, roller coaster on the high seas. Bennet Sharp is a lady pirate with a loyal crew and when they are captured she sacrifices herself so they could escape to free her at a later date. Unknowing the hell she would be facing. The rest of the story is like a storm with ebbs and flows taking you high and low and other unexpected places. Some of those places are ugly and some had my heart overflowing. To say more would really ruin the story in my opinion so I will just say the characters were brilliant, I felt like I was right there and once I started the story I didn’t want to put it down.
Content warning – violence, rape, murder
I received a free copy of this book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
**FULL REVIEW**
“‘It doesn’t matter how far we fall, how much pain, we inflict, or how dark it becomes in the ruin. I’m going to be with you, waiting for you, loving you, forgiving you. I’m never letting go, Bennett. Never.'”
This book is everything I never knew I always wanted in my life. From the exquisite writing style to the time period to a…damn, a female pirate captain! What?! It’s a complete contradiction to what a hero/heroine would be…and it was utterly PERFECT! I loved every page, the sweet torture, the mislead hearts, the battles for more than just spoils. I want more!
“Over the past seven years, I’d been beaten violently by enemies and spanked sensually by lovers. Ashley’s strikes slammed through those extremes, erased the line between pain and pleasure, and crashed straight into war.”
Trapped between the betrayal of her past and lack of promise for her future, Bennett Sharp sails the high seas on her inherited ship Jade. Loyal crew members and a plan in place, being on the run should be easy…except when her infamous Priest returns, determined to win back more than just a spot in her bed.
Little does he realize, Captain Sharp has some tricks of her own. She wants answers and will stop at nothing to get them…even arrange her own capture? Surely, there’s a better way…
“Love had hunted me, captured me, bred madness, and yes, it left a sea of ruin in its wake. But the devastation washed away. The skies cleared, and now we were calm, free, sailing on the winds of our hard-won peace.”
While it took a minute to get started, once I did, I couldn’t stop. Forgoing sleep in favor of one more chapter, one more page, a few extra words. Addicting and filled with gore, love doesn’t come easy on the high seas….it’s a fight, sometimes to the death. But each breath won, each heart captured…
“We’re an exquisite force of destruction.”
And through every storm…
“Love prevailed, not in the windless calm of life, but in the ruin.”
**5 Wreck Me Again, Stars**
First I apologize for a long review, but just bear with me.
Sea of Ruin, by Pam Godwin
Whoohoo! If I could give this book 10 stars I would. If I could give this book 20 stars I would. People, people, listen to me when you read this. Sea of Ruin, is a d***n good book!
It’s heart pounding and a joy to read. The book pulls you in from the first chapter to the end of the last page. Pam Godwin dug deep into her mind to bring you strong characters. Characters that could standup to the most painful torture that could be thrown at any human being, literally bring them to their knees. And I don’t mean just the physical aspect.
The psychological terror and grief that Bennett goes through is rough and brutal. I can see now why Pam wrote her character to have quick wit with a sarcastic tongue. Bennetts proves to be a strong leader and a seductress all in one. These skills made her a monumental woman in this book. Let’s not forget Priest and Lord Ashley.
You couldn’t imagine any other two men, to play Bennetts love interest. I mean god almighty, where did these two perfect specimen of men come from! Each morning after reading this book at night, I woke up expecting one or both of them looking at me. Who am I kidding, fondling me as I woke up! The details of the scenes plays out so well for its readers.
Pam describes the ships with great detail bringing the visualization of the high seas to the forefront of your mind as you read. The book did not drag or have any stalling points. The emotions in this book is raw and real. Sea of Ruin leaves you excited and scared to read the next sentence in the matter of seconds. And that’s a good thing!
Here’s a little bit of the story. Bennett is subjected to marry a lord at the age of 14. Distress mom does not listen to Bennetts cries to not wed. Bennett meets up with her father, whose a pirate. Father is captured.
Brutal beatings ensues. Lord to be wed dies, multiple people die. Pirate fights with red coats. Escapes to the seas on gifted boats. Fast forward 8 years.
Lost love returns, bounties being captured, while slaves are set free. New loves are introduced. And the most erotic makeout sessions that I have ever read, goes down in the Captains quarters. Captains being captured and tortured. And the strangest reaction to oranges.
And how can I forget… there’s a hunt for the pirates buried treasure, while lost loves unite. There are so many things that has been covered in this book that really tugs at the romantic heart. Sea of Ruin is a book, that’s a strong voice for the strong willed women. It exposes the determination of all women who do not give up on the ones that they love. Including their loving fathers who watches over them.
Yes, yes! I recommend this book with three snaps. A, oh my God yes. Wink, wink. And a lot of twisting going on! Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
I love Godwin but I could not understand why the heroine falls in love with men she does. She really lost me though one the girl goes from catatonic to ready to forgive and fight in minutes.
***SHOCKINGLY PHENOMENAL***
This was highly recommended. I read it because I trusted the person who reccomended it and knew it had to be good if she was raving so hard about it. I was not a fan of historical romance or pirates when I began this book. I dont have enough words to describe how much I loved this story!!!! This writer took me on an adventure way beyond my expectations. An adventure I never knew I needed!!! I figured it would be a great read but it is so much more. I was captivated by this story and quickly became addicted to the characters! I could not put this down and as I read it just got better and better. The love, the compassion, the loss and levels of pain, the strength, the dedication and determination shown in the characters is something I will not forget. This stays with me. I’m a new fan. 1000%. A must read!!!
This was a hot dark historical pirate read about Bennett, Priest and Ashley. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Pam Godwin knows how to write kickass heroines and dark thrilling stories. The details and drama about the pirate world was so beautifully written. I couldn’t stop reading until I finished this hauntingly dark, diabolical, delicious, naughty and so hot story. Pam Godwin totally outdid herself with this detailed, beautiful historical pirate story and i can’t wait to read more.
All I can say is WOW! This book surprised me with how good it was. I’m not a huge fan of historical romances and have never read a pirate themed novel. But WOW. I literally could not put this down. It was such a unique storyline with so many twists and turns (I will not spoil anything here, but there is one particular twist that will leave you shocked). This book was dark and gritty, but still had a romantic and mystical backdrop on the sea. One of the best parts of this book is the setting. The author did really well with the historical aspects of the novel and brought a pirate-y feel without being cheesy or gimmicky. Her writing was so fluid and engaging it left me thinking about the novel long after I finished.
A huge positive for this book was the three main characters. Specifically the heroine. Bennett was the perfect mix of strong and vulnerable, which made her so relatable. I usually have the perception of females in historical novels as weak and damsels in distress, but that was NOT the case here. Bennett was tough mentally and physically and a very feminist character. I also loved how different and unique both of the male heros were. Even though we did not get their POVs, I still felt a deep connection to them and their storylines. The sex scenes were a perfect mix of steamy, romantic, and a little violent.
The only minor issue I had was that it’s little bit long in parts, but that really did not bother me at all. This was a novel that was even better when reflected upon after I was finished. I highly recommend this book and author! Fingers crossed there are more books within this historical/pirate world.
I finished SoR days ago, but there was so much packed on, I needed a few days to digest it before I could come up with a review. This was definitely a unique story, a female pirate in the new americas. A little belief will have to be suspended as to how a woman could command a pirate ship. And these pirates all have hearts of gold. The story was gripping and evoked every emotion. Anger, joy, passion, suspense, hope, jealousy, sorrow, relief, fear. I don’t usually go for love triangles, but didnt mind this one, there was also cheating, but it was interesting how Pam played it out. I found myself rooting for Ashley, but that’s really just because he was better fleshed out.
So, I really enjoyed, but why didn’t I give it a 5star rate? There was so much violence, torture, sexual assault. I can handle a little dark, but at some point, it just got to be too much. I found myself skimming through those scenes just to get past them. so there’s your warning for that.
I felt Pam really matured as an author with SoR. It was well written, the story fully fleshed out. The characters were all thoroughly depicted and strong. Even down to the minor ones. I will read again.
I’m no stranger to Pam Godwin’s brand of dark romance and grit, but this one goes all in. Sea of Ruin was a one-of-a-kind historical story. Vivid, detailed, and with a lot of brutal moments. The characters will hook you. Godwin’s writing is always on point. Definitely worth checking out!
The cover was captivating. I knew that I wanted to read it. However, I was around the halfway mark when I realized that it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. That being said, I enjoyed the read and would recommend it to people who happen to know what they’re getting into when they read this author.
Honest review in exchange for an ARC.
This is one of my favorite books this year!
Pam Godwin has written this epic, mind-blowing historical romance complete with pirates! A lady pirate, as a matter of fact!
This is a thrill ride on the high seas.
It’s got adventure and romance.
It’s a little dark and a whole lot of angsty! My most favorite kind of book.
The MM/MFM aspect only makes this story BETTER! Sexier. Spicier. Grittier.
If you don’t get into historical romance, you’ll get into this one.
If pirates aren’t really your jam, these pirates may change your mind.
If the MM/MFM story isn’t your type of thing, this is the perfect book to ease you into it.
Great characters and a devious plot make this book one of my top reads for 2020!
I could not put this book down and read it over 2 days time. A real page turner!
There is no stopping Pam Godwin! Another dark and delicious story with all of the taboos that we love! Sea of Ruin will wow you! The setting, the dialect, the style will pull you under.
Bennett Sharp is a pint size pillar of strength and resilience. Daughter of the legendary pirate Edric Sharp, she chooses to follow in her father’s footsteps. Bennett is truly one of the best heroines that Pam has ever written.
“My heart belonged on a ship with the seafarer who’d given me a stone and loved me for who I was. Impulsive. Wild. Rebellious.”
Priest Farrell and Lord Ashley Cutler compete fiercely for her heart! The pirate and the pirate hunter! Who will she choose? Both are fierce, competitive and so very male! Priest is cunning, calculating and clever. Ashley is regal, controlling and unpredictable.
Sea of Ruin consumed me as it tossed my emotions around through the storm that churns and brews. It will take you on a fantastic journey complete with tidal waves and twists I never saw coming.
“Love isn’t a decision. It arrives unannounced, breeds madness, and leaves a sea of ruin in its wake.”
A true dark and gritty story telling by Ms. Godwin with a magnificent picture of a Pirate’s life that had me transported during their time.
It captivates my attention from the very start. A story of survival that’ll make you bite your nails and prepare for the worse to come.
A love story that is unexpected especially coming from the one you sought as your enemy.
A shocking twist in the end and although I’m not that impressed, I still highly recommend this for dark readers as it contains triggers.
I’m not typically a fan of historical romance, but Sea of Ruin pulled me in and I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. It was fantastic! I didn’t want to put it down. It had my full attention the entire book! Pam Godwin did such a fantastic job!!
Absolutely Fantastic!! Sea of Ruin deserves way more than the 5 stars I can give it! Such an amazing book that you won’t be able to put it down until you have read every last bit of it. So addictively hot! This book was completely out of my norm but it’s so unique and phenomenal that I just can’t get enough of it. I’m definitely reading this one again. Once was just not enough!